Our Services / Fatigue

When should I be concerned about feelings of fatigue?

It’s normal to feel overworked, overwhelmed, and overtired on occasion. But you should be concerned about fatigue that causes unrelenting exhaustion that permeates every day. Fatigue isn’t relieved by rest and interferes with your daily life. 

Fatigue is not just the tiredness you feel after a poor night’s sleep. It’s a nearly constant state of weariness. Fatigue interferes with concentration, energy, and motivation. It also impacts your emotional and psychological wellbeing.

What causes fatigue?

Fatigue has many possible causes, including emotional and physical factors. Fatigue is a symptom of many medical conditions. Fatigue shows up in response to systemic inflammation, autoimmune disease, and hormonal imbalances. 

Problems with your heart can also cause fatigue, including heart failure and coronary artery disease. 

Adrenal fatigue or adrenal insufficiency can also cause overwhelming fatigue. Intense stress can lead to this condition, characterized by nervousness, sleep disturbances, lightheadedness, digestive problems, and body aches.

Dr. Rieders also considers whether your fatigue is due to: 

• Certain medications, such as antihistamines and cough medicines
• Anemia
• Chronic infection
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalgia
• Thyroid disorders
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Nutritional deficiencies are also often responsible for overwhelming fatigue.

How do you evaluate fatigue?

Dr. Rieders takes a holistic approach when assessing the reasons for your fatigue and developing a treatment plan. He’ll consider your health, the environment, and lifestyle choices and habits, such as: 

• Use of drugs or alcohol
• Excess or not enough physical activity
• Lack of sleep
• Unhealthy eating habits, and poor lifestyle choices

In addition, he uses his vast medical expertise to run any necessary screenings, lab tests, and blood tests to look for possible causes. These tests can reveal inflammatory markers, nutritional deficiencies, or hormone problems.

How is fatigue treated?

Dr. Rieders addresses your fatigue using a multi-disciplinary approach. He may offer vitamins and supplements, healthy lifestyle changes, and medical nutrition. He can also help rebalance your hormones or provide certain medications, when needed, like anti-inflammatories and corticosteroids. 

If you have a heart condition that’s causing fatigue, Dr. Rieders has the training to provide management and support. He can also help you create a healthy relationship with environmental stressors, so you respond in a healthy way.

If you’re suffering crippling fatigue, seek the holistic care offered at Peninsula Integrative Cardiology. Call today to set up an in-person or telemedicine appointment or schedule online.